Patents Issued in July 21, 2020
  • Patent number: 10718534
    Abstract: An air conditioner includes a heat exchanger including a refrigerant tube, a fin assembly, and a fan assembly located at an upper portion of the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes a first heat exchanger adjacent to the fan assembly and a second heat exchanger under the first heat exchanger. A density of a fin assembly at the first heat exchanger is larger than that of a fin assembly at the second heat exchanger. The heat exchanger may include a plurality of layers with a refrigerant introduced into each of inlet pipes of the heat exchanger flowing evenly at each of the layers. The refrigerant to be discharged to each of outlet pipes is discharged at the same temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyung Hoon Kim, Sung Goo Kim, Tae Il Kim, Dong-Il Jung, Seung Kwan Choi, Jei-Min Choi
  • Patent number: 10718535
    Abstract: Provided is a humidification and air cleaning apparatus. The humidification and air cleaning apparatus includes a water tank storing water; a visual body forming at least a portion of the water tank and formed of a transparent material; a watering housing disposed in the water tank, drawing water stored in the water tank to pump water to an upper side, and spraying the pumped water; a nozzle disposed in the watering housing and spraying the pumped water; and a watering motor rotating the watering housing. Here, when the watering housing rotates, water sprayed from the nozzle forms at least one spray line on an inner side surface of the visual body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sanghyuk Son, Jeongtaek Park, Jieun Choi, Jungwoo Lee, Chungook Chong, Taeyoon Kim, Kunyoung Lee, Jongsu Lee, Kyoungho Lee
  • Patent number: 10718536
    Abstract: A heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a blower assembly having a blower housing configured to operate with various sized impellers. The blower housing includes a cutoff that is selectively radially adjustable to locate a leading edge of the cutoff in a position relative to one of the various sized impellers to maintain a proper clearance between the leading edge of the cutoff and one of the various sized impellers in order to efficiently separate blower discharge airflow from incoming airflow collected in the blower housing and prevent recirculation of the blower discharge airflow through the blower housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Stewart Hancock
  • Patent number: 10718537
    Abstract: An adjusting system includes a system optimization device, a central control device, at least one air conditioning load device, at least one indoor area environment sensing device, and at least one outdoor area external environment sensing device. The at least one air conditioning load device is configured to obtain an air conditioning load parameter according to an air conditioning load in the space area. The at least one indoor area environment sensing device is configured to obtain an indoor environment parameter. The at least one outdoor area external environment sensing device is configured to obtain an outdoor environment parameter. The system optimization device receives the indoor environment parameter, the outdoor environment parameter, and the air conditioning load parameter and calculates to obtain a control parameter. The central control device controls the supply temperature of the water chiller according to the control parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: CHICONY POWER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tse-Wen Chang, Cheng-Yi Ho
  • Patent number: 10718538
    Abstract: A method for obtaining a water amount for a humidifier, includes: obtaining a target humidification parameter for a space to be humidified; determining a water amount required for the humidifier to reach the target humidification parameter; and outputting a notifying message, the notifying message carrying the determined water amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignees: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd., Beijing Smartmi Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tiejun Liu, Xingsheng Lin, Yanan Meng, Dongdong Wang
  • Patent number: 10718539
    Abstract: A control system includes an energy management system in operation with intelligent, network-connected thermostats located in structures. The thermostats are operable to control heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Control during a demand response (DR) event period may be performed based on an optimal control trajectory of the HVAC system, where the control trajectory is optimal in that it minimizes a cost function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Yoky Matsuoka, Mark Malhotra, Allen J. Minich, Mark D. Stefanski
  • Patent number: 10718540
    Abstract: The control section implements: a utilization cooling operation in which the thermal storage medium absorbs heat from the refrigerant and in which the refrigerant evaporates in the indoor heat exchanger, when the receiving section receives a first signal indicating a request for reduced use of power during an operation in which the room is cooled by the refrigerant evaporating in the indoor heat exchanger; and a cooling and cold thermal energy storage operation in which the refrigerant absorbs heat from the thermal storage medium and in which the refrigerant evaporates in the indoor heat exchanger, when the receiving section receives a second signal indicating a request for accelerated use of power during the operation in which the room is cooled by the refrigerant evaporating in the indoor heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Kouichi Yasuo, Shuuji Fujimoto, Kebi Chen, Takuya Nakao
  • Patent number: 10718541
    Abstract: A control system for managing operation of a plurality of thermostats includes a server comprising a processor, a memory, and a communication interface. The memory device stores instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to display, on a display device of a computing device, a visual representation for each thermostat of the plurality of thermostats and one or more groups into which each of the plurality of thermostats is grouped, and further to assign an operating schedule to a group, apply the assigned operating schedule to each thermostat of the plurality of thermostats located in the group, and move one thermostat of the plurality of thermostats from a first group to a second group in response to a user dragging and dropping a visual representation of the thermostat on the display device from the first group to the second group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Abhishek Chakravarty, Stephen E. Bolen, Kathleen Dye
  • Patent number: 10718542
    Abstract: A building management system includes a controller configured to control building equipment by providing a control input to the building equipment for each of the plurality of time steps and generate a set of training data for a system model for the building. The training data includes input training data and output training data for each of the plurality of time steps. The controller is further configured to perform a system identification process to identify parameters of the system model. The system identification process includes predicting, for each time step, a predicted value for one or more of the output variables for each of a plurality of subsequent time steps, generating a prediction error function by comparing the output training data to the predicted values, and optimizing the prediction error function to determine values for the parameters of the system model that minimize the prediction error function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Anas W. I. Alanqar, Matthew J. Ellis, Michael J. Wenzel, Juan Esteban Tapiero Bernal
  • Patent number: 10718543
    Abstract: Described herein is an apparatus and method for avoiding frost and ice buildup in and on vent pipes that transport a stream of gas from the inside to the outside of a building. The apparatus and method comprise a heat-conducting path that extracts heat energy from the stream of gas exiting the vent pipe, and transfers this energy to the frost and ice condensing surfaces at or near the terminus of the vent pipe. The heat-conducting path comprises a heat pipe. In one embodiment the heat-conducting path further comprises a heat exchanger. The passive transfer of heat energy via the heat-conducting path, from the stream of gas to the condensing surfaces of the vent pipe, avoids frost and ice buildup in or around the terminus of the vent pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: FROSTFREE VENTING INC.
    Inventor: Lesley W. Weir
  • Patent number: 10718544
    Abstract: A reinforcing assembly for air ducts includes a helical reinforcement with an outer circumference and at least one connecting element for fixing a pitch of a helix formed by the helical reinforcement. The at least one connecting element may be fixed to the helical reinforcement by a plurality of joints with mutually arranged spacing. The reinforcing assembly may be combined with an air duct to form a duct system for transmitting and distributing air that retains its shape regardless of the system's internal air pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: PRIHODA s.r.o.
    Inventor: Zdenek Prihoda
  • Patent number: 10718545
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an air conditioner capable of guiding air in a desired direction with an adjusted speed without marring the appearance to solve the above-described problems. An air conditioner comprising a ceiling-embedded type indoor unit configured to discharge air into an indoor room through an air outlet simultaneously sucking indoor air through an air inlet, wherein a air conditioner comprises, a main flap configured to guide a direction of air discharged from a air outlet in a preset direction, and a sub-flap configured to guide the direction of air between the main flap and the sub-flap in the preset direction, wherein a length of a main flap in a direction where air flows is longer than that of the sub-flap in the direction where air flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ajiki Tomohito, Shinji Goto
  • Patent number: 10718546
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus indoor unit includes: a plastic design panel that includes a front panel part having a rectangular shape in front view and a flange part projecting toward a back surface from one longitudinal edge of the front panel part; and a reinforcement member that has a shape extending in the longitudinal direction of the front panel part across a middle part of the design panel and is fixed to the design panel so as to be in contact with a back surface of the front panel part and an inner surface of the flange part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hisanori Ikeda, Masayuki Oishi, Shuhei Yokota
  • Patent number: 10718547
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus according to the present invention includes: a heat-source-side unit including a heat-source-side heat exchanger and a compressor; a plurality of load-side units including respective load-side heat exchangers and respective load-side expansion devices; and a relay unit connected between the heat-source-side unit and the plurality of load-side units by a first gas pipe and a first liquid pipe. The relay unit includes a gas/liquid separator which separates refrigerant supplied from the heat-source-side unit into gas refrigerant and liquid refrigerant, a gas-refrigerant supply pipe and a liquid-refrigerant supply pipe which are connected to the gas/liquid separator and each of the plurality of load-side units, a drain pan which is provided in a housing of the relay unit and which receives dew-condensation water, and a heat transfer body which is provided in the drain pan and which is in contact with the liquid-refrigerant supply pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Yohei Baba
  • Patent number: 10718548
    Abstract: The present invention includes an air return grille assembly adapted to be installed within an air return opening disposed within a ceiling, the air return opening having a first perimeter. The air return housing includes a frame establishing a housing channel. A flange is configured to restrict an air filter from being disposed through the frame. A retraction mechanism is coupled to a portion of the lateral wall of the air return housing and configured to transition the grille from a first position to a second position. When in the first position an air filter is disposed between the grill and the flange such that air flowing through the air return opening is filtered by the air filter. In the second position, the grille is disposed away from the air return housing and configured to permit the safe removal and replacement of the air filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Inventors: Betty F. Hart, Jack Mace, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10718549
    Abstract: A heat pump water heater has a tank, a heat source, and a heat pump system. The heat pump system has a refrigerant path, at least a portion of which is in thermal communication with the water tank volume so that heat transfers from refrigerant to the water tank volume. A fan causes air to flow through a housing, and another portion of the refrigerant path includes an evaporator in the housing. The fan is within the housing and may further be within a second housing. The first housing may comprise a baffle to direct air flow. The fan may be a variable speed fan in communication with a controller, so that the controller controls the fan speed depending on a temperature of the refrigerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Rodney K. Pugh, Emil J. Antoon, Josue Figueroa, Hector T. Donastorg, Richard T. Robbins
  • Patent number: 10718550
    Abstract: An alcohol-based solvent chiller includes an insulated vessel; a spiral-shaped heat exchanger designed specifically to chill alcohol-based solvents that become viscous at low temperatures within the insulated vessel; a cryogenic tank with pressure building capability that will force coolant through the heat exchanger at a specific pressure; and a cryogenic pump to circulate viscous cryogenic temperature liquids within the insulated vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Reflect Scientific Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Scott Ellis, Steven Joseph Parkinson, Steven Victor Boyce, William Grant Moon
  • Patent number: 10718551
    Abstract: A hybrid Vapor Compression (VC) and Thermoelectric (TE) heat transport system is provided that maintains a set point temperature range of a chamber and includes a VC system and a TE system. The VC system includes a compressor, a condenser-evaporator connected to the compressor, a first valve connecting the compressor to an evaporator-condenser, and a second valve connecting the evaporator-condenser to a thermal expansion valve. The TE system includes TE modules, a first heat exchanger thermally connected with a first side of the TE modules which connects the first valve and the second valve, and a second heat exchanger thermally connected with a second side of the TE modules which connects the first valve and the second valve. In this way, the VC system and the TE system can be operated individually, in series, or in parallel to increase the efficiency of the hybrid VC and TE heat transport system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Phononic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jesse W. Edwards, Robert B. Allen, Devon Newman
  • Patent number: 10718552
    Abstract: Provided is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a main body defining a storage space, a cryogenic freezing compartment provided in the storage space, and a thermoelectric module assembly disposed at one side of the cryogenic freezing compartment so that the cryogenic freezing compartment is cooled to a temperature less than that of the storage space. The cryogenic freezing compartment includes a cryogenic case into which an insulation material is filled to be thermally insulated from the storage space and in which a cryogenic freezing space is defined, a case door opening and closing the cryogenic case, and a rail assembly connecting the cryogenic case to the case door and extending and contracted in multi-stages to allow the case door to be slid to be inserted and withdrawn. The rail assembly is mounted on the cryogenic case outside the cryogenic freezing space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Yoomin Park, Jinho Son, Hozin Song
  • Patent number: 10718553
    Abstract: A refrigeration and heating system includes a refrigeration circuit which includes in the direction of flow of a circulating refrigerant: at least one compressor; a refrigeration circuit side of a coupling heat exchanger; at least one gas cooler; at least one gas cooler bypass line and at least one gas cooler bypass valve assembly allowing to bypass the at least one gas cooler; at least one expansion device and at least one evaporator. The refrigeration and heating system includes a heating circuit which includes in the direction of flow of a circulating heating fluid: a heating circuit side of the coupling heat exchanger and at least one heating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christian Douven, Markus Hafkemeyer
  • Patent number: 10718554
    Abstract: A manifold includes: a branch pipe including an inflow port and a plurality of outflow ports; and a partition wall that partitions an inside of the branch pipe into a side of the inflow port and a side of the plurality of outflow ports and includes: a plurality of through-holes that have a total opening area greater than an opening area of the inflow port; and a plurality of first facing portions that face the respective outflow ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Keita Hirai, Tsuyoshi So, Naofumi Kosugi
  • Patent number: 10718555
    Abstract: An inline acid detection apparatus for inhibition in an HVAC system including at least one line adapter, at least one passage adapter, and an inhibitor. The at least one line adapter is configured to mate with a refrigerant line on the HVAC system. The at least one passage adapter configured to couple to the second-diameter of the at least one line adapter. The at least one passage adapter allowing a process fluid to flow therethrough. The inhibitor is configured to stop the process fluid from passing through the inline acid detection apparatus. The inhibitor is actuated by a trigger mechanism. The trigger mechanism is configured to be actuated by an acid. The inline acid detection apparatus will shut down the HVAC system when the process fluid includes a threshold of the acid such that the trigger mechanism actuates the inhibitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Inventor: Billy Lewis
  • Patent number: 10718556
    Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for improving stabilization of a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. More specifically, the systems and methods include a heat-flow modulator for regulating an exchange of thermal energy between a flow of refrigerant and a sensory bulb. The exchange of thermal energy allows an expansion valve to respond to a refrigerant temperature using an actuator, which is coupled to the sensory bulb. The heat-flow modulator is formed of a body that includes a first contact surface and a second contact surface. The first contact surface is thermally-coupled to a suction line of the HVAC system, which conveys the flow of refrigerant. The second contact surface is thermally-coupled to the sensory bulb. In one instance the heat-flow modulator has variable volume depending on how installed. Other systems and methods are presented. Variable heat-flow modulators are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Lennox Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Rakesh Goel, Eric Berg
  • Patent number: 10718557
    Abstract: A portable cooling unit is disclosed for cooling perishable items such as strawberries at a worksite such as a field where the strawberries are harvested. The cooling unit includes a conveyor trailer for receiving pallets of perishable items and conveying the pallets through a number of cooling chambers within the conveyor trailer. The cooling unit further includes a refrigeration trailer for supplying independent cold air flow paths to the different cooling chambers of the conveyor trailer. The conveyor and refrigeration trailers may operate as a self-sustained cooling unit, without any external connections to power or working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Azzopardi Technology Group, LLC
    Inventor: Michael J. Azzopardi
  • Patent number: 10718558
    Abstract: An auxiliary thermosiphon has an auxiliary refrigerant conduit with an auxiliary evaporation segment in thermally conductive connection to an interior wall of the freezer. The auxiliary refrigerant conduit contains an auxiliary refrigerant that is isolated from the primary refrigerant of the primary cooling apparatus. The auxiliary refrigerant conduit also extends upward to an auxiliary condensation segment of the auxiliary refrigerant conduit at an elevation above the auxiliary evaporation segment. A thermal bridge is in physical thermal contact with the auxiliary condensation segment and in physical thermal contact with a portion of a primary evaporation segment of the primary refrigeration apparatus. Heat is transported through the thermal bridge from the auxiliary thermosiphon to the primary refrigerant conduit and consequently to the primary refrigeration apparatus for removal from the freezer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Global Cooling, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Berchowitz, Todd Richards
  • Patent number: 10718559
    Abstract: A refrigerator including a cabinet, a liner defining a compartment within the cabinet, a fan to move cooled air, and an air tower positioned adjacent the liner and provided in fluid communication with the compartment via a plurality of primary exhaust openings. The refrigerator further includes an air filter bracket separate from and located adjacent to the air tower and provided in fluid communication with both the air tower and the compartment. The air filter bracket includes a duct positioned adjacent the flow path of the air tower to be in fluid communication with a secondary exhaust opening of the air tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Edward Ulsaker, Ronaldo M. Oliveira, Cory Dale Simpson, Brian Roesch, Rodrigo Pagnozzi, Ali Khan Mayanna, Josh Hanson
  • Patent number: 10718560
    Abstract: Disclosed are a refrigerator and a control method thereof. The refrigerator according to one aspect includes a main body having a storage chamber; a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant; a condenser configured to condense the refrigerant compressed by the compressor; an evaporation expander configured to depressurize the refrigerant condensed by the condenser; a first evaporator configured to evaporate the refrigerant depressurized by the evaporation expander and thus to cool the storage chamber; a condensing expander installed between the condenser and the evaporation expander and configured to depressurize the refrigerant condensed by the condenser; and a subsidiary condenser installed between the condensing expander and the evaporation expander and configured to condense the refrigerant depressurized by the condensing expander.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Heayoun Sul, Dongseok Kim
  • Patent number: 10718561
    Abstract: A refrigerator comprises: a cabinet having a refrigerating chamber; a refrigerating chamber evaporator provided to correspond to the refrigerating chamber, and configured to generate cool air by a driving of a compressor; an evaporator temperature sensor mounted to the refrigerating chamber evaporator, and configured to sense a temperature; a blower fan configured to supply cool air generated from the refrigerating chamber evaporator to the refrigerating chamber; and a controller configured to determine whether to stop the blower fan or not, based on a temperature of the refrigerating chamber evaporator sensed by the evaporator temperature sensor when the compressor is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Yonghyeon Cho, Sunghee Kang
  • Patent number: 10718562
    Abstract: A refrigerator a duct arranged to partition an inner space of a storage chamber body into a storage chamber and an air flow channel, wherein the duct has an ejection hole defined therein; a roll-bond evaporator disposed in the air flow channel, wherein the roll-bond evaporator has a top and a bottom, a left end and a right end; a blowing fan configured to draw air from the storage chamber to blow the air into the air flow channel; and a defrost sensor closer to one of the top and bottom than the other of the top and the bottom, wherein said one is closer to the blowing fan than the other, wherein the sensor is closer to one of the left end and the right end than the other of the left end and the right end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Soyoon Kim, Kyunghun Cha, Kyungseok Kim
  • Patent number: 10718563
    Abstract: A refrigerator includes a storeroom configured to have a pantry install part. The refrigerator also includes a pantry arranged in the pantry install part. The refrigerator also includes a filter case configured to receive a water filter and arranged in the pantry install part to be covered by the pantry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Bok Lee, Sang Chul Ryu, Jin Kyu Seon, Yong Bo Shim
  • Patent number: 10718564
    Abstract: A gas liquefaction apparatus includes at least a source-gas supply line that supplies source gas; a room-temperature heat exchanger, a preliminary-cooling heat exchanger, and a liquefaction/supercooling heat exchanger that are provided in series sequentially in the source-gas supply line and that cool the source gas; a separation drum that separates the source gas containing a condensate, which has been cooled by heat exchange up to a liquefaction temperature of the source gas or below, into a gas component and a liquefied component; and a refrigerant-gas supply line that uses a gas component separated by the separation drum as refrigerant gas to supply the refrigerant gas in a direction opposite to a supply direction of the source gas, in order of the liquefaction/supercooling heat exchanger, the preliminary-cooling heat exchanger, and the room-temperature heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engineering, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wataru Matsubara, Atsuhiro Yukumoto, Nobuyuki Nishioka, Hiroyuki Furuichi, Takeo Shinoda, Hiroshi Shiomi
  • Patent number: 10718565
    Abstract: Assemblies and methods for drying apparel, for example, footwear or gloves, are provided. The assemblies include a panel; projections or pegs pivotally mounted to the panel, the projections each having an inlet, an outlet, an internal passage communicating the inlet to the outlet, and the projections can be oriented in a position adapted to receive the apparel; and a source of air having an outlet in fluid communication with the inlets of the projections. The air, for example, from a fan, passes into the inlets of the projections, through the internal passages, and out of the outlets to contact and dry the apparel mounted on the projections. The methods may include heating the air to enhance the drying. Projection modules that can be pivotally mounted to extend and retract into the panel are also disclosed. The retracted projection may be flush with the panel when not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Inventor: Lawrence A. Hinkey
  • Patent number: 10718566
    Abstract: Washstand furniture is disclosed. The washstand furniture includes: a wash device including a wash bowl, a water supply assembly for supplying water to the wash bowl, and a drainage assembly for draining the water supplied to the wash bowl; an inner cabinet provided under the wash bowl, the inner cabinet having a space defined therein; a frame provided outside the inner cabinet for supporting the load of the wash device; an electrically operated module provided in the inner cabinet; a rail for moving the module provided in the inner cabinet; and a rail bracket for fastening the rail to the inside of the inner cabinet and for fixing the inner cabinet and the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jongseok Kim, Inhyung Yang, Ungje Jo
  • Patent number: 10718567
    Abstract: A multiple hearth furnace in which in a gas space above at least one hearth an annular baffle is provided above the rabble arms of that hearth. The annular baffle modifies gas flow in the gas space, in particular gas residence times above the hearth. This in turn can enhance performance of the furnace, for example in respect of carbon monoxide emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: SYNERGETICS PTY LTD
    Inventors: Nicholas Boustead, James Brett, David Shanks
  • Patent number: 10718568
    Abstract: A sample heating device includes: a rail-shaped disposal rail extending in one direction in a horizontal plane so that sample boats after heating are arranged and placed in a straight line; a disposal tray that houses the sample boat pushed-out from one end of the disposal rail; a sample boat conveying portion that places the sample boat after the heating at a predetermined placing position on the disposal rail; and a sample boat push-out portion that is positioned closer to the other end side of the disposal rail than the placing position when the sample boat is placed on the disposal rail and that is displaced toward the one end side of the disposal rail after the sample boat is placed at the placing position to slide the sample boats on the disposal rail toward the one end side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akioki Nakamori
  • Patent number: 10718569
    Abstract: The present invention improves the strength of the bottom (net) of the jig and makes it more difficult and unlikely for deviation of the mesh to occur. A workpiece is loaded on the net (2) of the heat treat furnace jig (hereinafter, heat treatment furnace jig). In the net (2), a first strand (10), a second strand (20) and a third strand (30) are in contact at a contact point (X1). Near the contact point (X1), the second strand (20) overlaps the first strand (10) from above and the third strand (30) overlaps the first strand (10) from below. As a result, the first strand (10) is held between the second strand (20) and the third strand (30) in the up/down directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: TOYO TANSO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Syuhei Tomita, Hiroshi Machino, Toshiharu Hiraoka, Shingo Bito
  • Patent number: 10718570
    Abstract: A heating furnace for heating an annular component, includes a furnace body, a heat medium driving component, a support part, a guide component, and a hollow cylinder. Part of the heat medium is ejected to the outer circumferential surface of the annular component through the guide part, and part of the heat medium flows through the inner channel of the hollow cylinder, and be ejected to the inner circumferential surface of the bearing via the second heat medium channel arranged on the hollow cylinder to heat the inner circumferential surface of the bearing. In this way, the hollow cylinder plays a role of distributing the gas to some extent, and as the upper end of the hollow cylinder is a sealed structure, the flowing gas is all converted into effective heat exchange gas flow and restricted to a heat exchange space on the bearing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Beijing Goldwind Science & Creation Windpower Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shengjun Ma
  • Patent number: 10718571
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for forming polymer including: polymerizing a monomer dissolved in a solvent in the presence of a catalyst system under conditions to obtain a first effluent stream including a solution of the polymer and the solvent; heating the first effluent stream in at least one spiral heat exchanger to produce a second effluent stream, where the first effluent stream flows through the spiral heat exchanger in a cross-flow direction relative to spirals of the spiral heat exchanger and performing a separation on the second effluent stream to produce: a third effluent stream including polymer substantially free of the solvent; and a recycle stream including the solvent and unreacted monomer. Processes for devolatilizing a polymer stream are also provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Yifeng Hong, Jay L. Reimers
  • Patent number: 10718572
    Abstract: The present disclosure is to provide a heat sink capable of improving cooling efficiency of a heat radiation fin and exhibiting excellent cooling performance with respect to a cooling target regardless of an installation posture of the heat sink, and capable of being installed even in a narrow space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yosuke Watanabe, Tatsuro Miura, Toshiaki Nakamura, Kenya Kawabata, Yoshikatsu Inagaki
  • Patent number: 10718573
    Abstract: An oblong absorption body (1) for a capsule (10) for a refrigeration apparatus for containing a phase-change material. The body has a flexible casing (2) filled with gas at atmospheric pressure, a main portion which is generally cylindrical, a circular cross-section and ends in hemispherical end portions. Also disclosed are capsules provided with such an absorption body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: CRYOGEL
    Inventor: Jean Patry
  • Patent number: 10718574
    Abstract: A pin fin heat exchanger including a pin fin heat pipe. A main tube of the heat pipe may divide at the evaporator end into a number of pin fin evaporators, each having fluid entrances and exits to the main tube; and at the condenser end into a number of pin fin condensers, each having fluid entrances and exits to the main tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Sustainable Engine Systems Limited
    Inventor: Drummond Watson Hislop
  • Patent number: 10718575
    Abstract: An apparatus and heat transfer system, the apparatus comprising: a substrate; a plurality of nucleation sites provided on the substrate; a nanostructured surface surrounding the nucleation sites arranged to enable coalescence induced droplet jumping; wherein both the plurality of nucleation sites and the nanostructured surface are hydrophobic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Nokia Technolgies Oy
    Inventors: Ryan Enright, Ross Lundy, Shenghui Lei, Shreyas Chavan
  • Patent number: 10718576
    Abstract: An ion exchanger includes a case having an inflow hole and an outflow hole. The case accommodates a tube. A first passage is defined between the case and the tube. A second passage is defined in the tube. A first end of the first passage and a first end of the second passage are connected to each other. The first passage includes a lower portion defining a lower accommodation portion that is filled with an anion exchange resin. The first passage includes an upper accommodation portion located above the lower accommodation portion. The upper accommodation portion is filled with a cation exchange resin. The upper accommodation portion has a smaller volume and a smaller refrigerant flow area than the lower accommodation portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Junko Ohira
  • Patent number: 10718577
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a modified rifle bolt carrier allowing a selectively openable vent/valve at the location where exhaust gas is pressurizing the bolt carrier to control carrier speed under suppressed fire in a first valve position or unsuppressed fire in a second valve position. A valve core is disclosed which may be rotated 180° to a first “open” setting for non-suppressed fire from its position in a “closed” position for suppressed fire, and a third “median” position. The modified bolt carrier will allow an operator of the firearm to adjust for a suppressor without changing the gas block or having to modify or adapt the front end or barrel end of the firearm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Primary Weapons
    Inventor: Dean Sylvester
  • Patent number: 10718578
    Abstract: An improved jig for manufacturing a firearm lower receiver is comprised of a power tool mount; an adapter; a guide plate with plate screws; a rear support with mounting screws; a front support; and at least one of a carriages with at least one locating pin. A guide plate is disposed below the top surface of a lower receiver in conjunction with an adapter. The jig is a universal fitment and includes a bearing to support a rotary tool and at least one guiding feature can be used to facilitate in the guidance of the rotary tool without placing the rotary tool in direct contact with any of the guidance features. A removable locating pin is situated a long the front and rear takedown pin holes of a firearm receiver that is not threaded and is provided with at least one of a pull, string or other handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: 80 Percent Arms, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne R. Partington
  • Patent number: 10718579
    Abstract: An M240 machine gun barrel assembly with a barrel with a muzzle end at the distal end of the barrel and a breach end at the proximal end of the barrel; a handle connector connecting the barrel to a handle assembly; and the handle assembly having a free end and a connected end, the connected end operably connected to the handle connector; the handle assembly operable between a first position with the free end of the handle assembly pointing proximally and a second position with the free end of the handle assembly pointing distally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: WHG Properties, LLC
    Inventors: Ronnie Barrett, Christopher Gene Barrett
  • Patent number: 10718580
    Abstract: A feeder and delinker for use in a gatling gun, the gatling gun comprising a plurality of gun barrels rotatably mounted in a ring, the feeder and delinker comprising: a housing, a drive gear rotationally coupled to the gun barrels rotatably mounted in the ring, the drive gear extending through the housing; a push rod guide and a plurality of push rods oriented parallel to the gun barrels rotatably mounted in the ring. The push rods being slidably received within a corresponding plurality of longitudinal grooves within the push rod guide, the push rod guide being rotationally coupled to the drive gear, at least one of the push rod guide or push rods comprising a friction reducer located between the push-rod and push rod guide, the push rod guide and the plurality of push rods and the shaft being mounted within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Inventor: Norman Binz Dewalch
  • Patent number: 10718581
    Abstract: A self-loading pistol comprising a magazine shaft which can receive a magazine; a retainer which can hold the magazine releasably in the magazine shaft; and a magazine release which can cause the retainer to release the magazine. The magazine release can be operated from both sides of the self-loading pistol and comprises two release buttons which are arranged on different sides of the self-loading pistol. The magazine release further comprises two release levers which are disposed on different sides of the self-loading pistol. The magazine can be released by actuating either release button and/or by actuating either release lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: UMAREX GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Daniel Rieger, Eyck Pflaumer, Martin Wonisch
  • Patent number: 10718582
    Abstract: A magazine for small arms is disclosed including box (1), bottom lid (2) with opening, ammunition (3), magazine follower (4), coil spring (6), where between the follower (4) and the coil spring (6) a disk (5) with a rectangular through hole (17) is made, which presses the upper end of the coil spring (6) to the follower (4), the ammunition stream separator (7). In addition there are grooves (8) along the wide side walls of the magazine box (1), on the inner surfaces facing the ammunition (3) a ground surface (9) is made, wherein in the lower part of the box of the magazine, on the outer surface there is a triangular ledge (12), and in upper part of magazine box (1) on wide side walls there are rigidly fixed plate inserts (10), on which the feeding projections (14) are made, the polished section (15) and the conical section (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Inventors: Oleksii Oleksandrovych Sharkov, Georgii Georgiiovych Makarov, Hlib Georgiiovych Makarov, Kostiantyn Okrevych Trypolskyi, Serhii Anatoliiovych Babenko, Sergii Pavlovych Zibrov
  • Patent number: 10718583
    Abstract: A high capacity magazine for high powered rimfire cartridges comprises a header portion that has a form factor to be received in a rotary magazine receptacle and an arcuate cartridge bank portion that holds a column of cartridges. A pair of clamshell halves define an arcuate cartridge bank and a lower portion of the header potion. A header caps the upper ends of the clamshell haves securing the clamshell halves together. The head and clamshell halves define the cartridge pathway to the magazine exit to be fed into the rifle chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Vista Outdoor Operations LLC
    Inventor: Christopher J. Michael